A17705:568
The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…
The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur GoldingThe sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur Golding
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Lucas Harison, 1577
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
We have seen heretofore, that God forgot not any mean that might knit us together in true concord and brotherhood. For he hath dedicated us all too himself by Baptism,1 wherein we put on Christ. Forasmuch as we he come together into the Church, like as we be called unto one selfsame life too be heirs all together of the kingdom of heaven: so ought we too know who is the Master that hath authority over us. Too be short, God is in such wise our father, and we his children, as he will not have us too be at discord: for otherwise it were but a setting of trouble in his own house and Church. Seeing we be members of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is meet that we should link together in true unity, or else we shall (as much as in us lieth) tear his body in pieces. Yet notwithstanding too the intent that this unity might touch us the better: S. Paul addeth now, that God being the father of all the faithful, sheddeth out his power and grace upon them, and is above all things, as it were too gather them into one. Too be short, he so dwelleth in them by his holy spirit, that they must needs be one body, unless they will needs turn away from him. Ye see then that the reason why God is our father, is not only that he hath once created us, or that he hath begotten us again by his Gospel: but because he hath shed out his grace upon us, as I said, and again, for that he is above all. Ye see then, that the mean whereby God linketh us one with another, is his casting of his beams (as it were sun beams) from heaven, so as we must needs come together into one, sith we know whence the things come that belong too our spiritual life, namely, of Gods gift towards us. And this is not too scatter us a sunder, but rather too gather us together into one body. But the last words do yet better lay open the mind of S. Paul, namely, that God is in us. Then if every of v• know that God doth him so much grace and honour,2 as to take him for his house too dwell in: there is no excuse for us, if we be at variance and hatred, and every man would be separated from other, and live too himself, too the utter overthrow of all order which God hath set, if it were possible.
WEe haue seene heeretoofore, that God forgat not any meane that myght knit vs togither in trew concord and brotherhood. For he hath dedicated vs all too himselfe by Baptim,